Posts with the tag ethics

Domenici admonished by ethics panel, Wilson still under investigation

JD — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 21:50:43 MDT

This just in on the U.S. Attorney scandal:

On Talking Points Memo.

On The Politico.

Earlier on Clearly New Mexico.

The Proof is in the Policy

eli il yong lee — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 23:20:30 MDT

On Saturday, JD posted a nice piece on John McCain's first national, general election tv commercial, 7 months out from the November election. The Center for American Progress (CAP) also noted that McCain was in our neighboring state to the north this past Thursday, accepting a ton of campaign cash from the oil and gas industry at Denver's Petroleum Club (link).

As CAP reported, McCain's tax cut proposal provides $3.8 billion to Exxon/Mobil, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Valero Energy and Marathon. To put that tax cut into perspective, it's a billion dollars more than the state of New Mexico spends on our entire public school system each year.

It's striking how McCain's Colorado fundraiser captures the fundamental outlines of the emerging presidential election contest.

First, the Southwest, and New Mexico in particular, are the nation's ground zero for the Presidential contest.

Second, the battle lines are being drawn, already framed in the Southwest: McCain the war hero versus McCain the corporate shill.

And third, this question over who the real John McCain is has parallels in New Mexico, as many Democratic and Republican candidates will soon struggle to reconcile their stated policy independence from their record of industry contributions.

UPDATE: Domenici's Wide Stance Stumbles

JD — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 19:50:06 MST

Bad news for Sen. Pete Domenici. His attempt to emulate Larry Craig's legal defense funding strategy apparently has unraveled.

Demand Clean Elections

IS — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 15:48:58 MST

We're a third of the way through the state legislative session in Santa Fe and have 5 days left to get a public financing bill introduced before the deadline. As Steve Allen, Common Cause NM's Executive Director, noted today the other reform bills that have been introduced are tellingly weak. It looks like legislative leadership on these pressing issues is not forthcoming. New Mexicans can tell when they're being led down a deadend, the litany of ethical and legal scandals the state has seen of late has been a wake up call. Why don't legislators act?

Former state Treasurer Micahel Montoya, convicted today of extorting millions of dollars while in office, was sentenced to 40 months in prison and a $25,000 fine. This is a victory for justice.

Let's see another victory for New Mexican values this session. Call Michael Sanchez and Ken Martinez today and tell them you want clean elections for statewide offices now.

Eye On New Mexico

IS — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 16:27:25 MST

Steve Allen, Common Cause New Mexico Executive Director, appeared on KOB's Eye on New Mexico this morning to support and debate the merits of the ethics package we are advocating for this session. Please watch the show online and feel free to comment or contact us at sallen@commoncause.org or 323 6399. We need your help to urge your legislators to pass these reforms.

There's also has an interesting and thought provoking blog post over on Heath Haussamen on New Mexico Politics. Heath lays out the political landscape and examines why the legislature is so reluctant to take up reform despite the broad support from the New Mexico public and the clear need for change as the effects of recent scandals are still felt.

The UNM Rugby Team debacle, involving State Senator Shannon Robinson, was the subject of a ABQ Journal editorial today, as was one on apparent ethical missteps bv a former state Insurance Superintendent and 30 criminal charges against his deputy.

We're just beginning to pressure the legislature to do the right and necessary thing by passing the ethics reform package but let's hope the evidence presented by continued ethical snafus override the politically self-serving calculations Haussamen suggests are in play.

Domenici adopts wide stance in use of campaign funds

JD — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 17:55:52 MST

Senator Pete Domenici is taking a page out of Idaho Senator Larry Craig’s book. Like Craig, he wants to use campaign funds to cover legal expenses associated with his defense against a Senate Ethics Committee inquiry.